– As it condemns rising violence against women and girls
The Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) says it stands in solidarity with the countless women and girls in Liberia who continue to face violence, abuse, and marginalization. We are deeply saddened by recent incidents that highlight the persistent threat to women’s safety and rights. We believe it is time to take collective and urgent action to end this cycle of violence against the women and girls of Liberia.
“Of recent, it’s the horrifying murder of a 22-year-old pregnant woman, Promise Bowah, whose lifeless body was seen in her home along with her six-year-old daughter in the White Plains Community of Robertville, Careysburg. The two were brutally murdered by the victim’s alleged boyfriend, Madison Garpeh, who has been charged with the heinous crime and is now detained at the Monrovia Central Prison,” WONGOSOL says.
While WONGOSOL commends the efforts of law enforcement in bringing Garpeh to justice, the body calls for a free and fair trial during the next court term. Justice must be served, not only for the victims but also to send a clear message that violence against women will not be tolerated in Liberia.
“Equally shocking is the incident in Brewerville, Montserrado County, on what should have been a day of celebration for a teenage student. The female student, on the day of her graduation, was handcuffed on her school campus by a court sheriff for failing to pay her balance graduation fees, as mandated by her principal. Such treatment is not only dehumanizing but also undermines the dignity and rights of a minor, especially young women pursuing their education. Education should be a tool for empowerment, not a platform for public humiliation and abuse.”
These acts of violence are not isolated incidents. Across Liberia, there has been a disturbing increase in reports of violence perpetrated against women and girls. In Margibi and Nimba Counties, the violation of young girls’ rights through Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) continues despite the long-standing fight to end such harmful practices. Underaged girls are being subjected to violence under the guise of cultural practices, denying them their basic rights and exposing them to lifelong trauma.
The Liberian government must take immediate action to halt all forms of violence against women and girls. We call for stronger laws, better enforcement, and a comprehensive strategy to ensure the safety and security of women across the country. Women and girls in Liberia must no longer live in fear of being marginalized, victimized, or treated as second-class citizens. They deserve protection, justice, and the right to live free from all forms of violence.
WONGOSOL also emphasizes the importance of Liberia’s commitment to international agreements such as the Maputo Protocol, which speaks to the protection of women’s rights and the elimination of violence against women. The government must ensure that the provisions of this protocol are fully implemented to guarantee the safety, dignity, and rights of women in Liberia.
The Women NGOs Secretariat calls on all stakeholders, government officials, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and community leaders to come together and address the rampant violence against women. “We must build a society where women and girls are respected, protected, and valued. Only through collective action can we achieve lasting impact”
Meanwhile, the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) and its members celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR), commencing with a one-day capacity-strengthening workshop for women-led organizations.
The gathering, held on October 2, 2024, at ActionAid Liberia’s office in Congo Town, brought together over 30 women-led organizations to discuss the protocol’s importance in addressing violence against women in Liberia. The event aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills for engaging state actors to ensure the government lives up to its commitments under the Maputo Protocol.
Speaking during the opening of the dialogue, WONGOSOL’s Executive Director, Madam Esther S. D. Yango, emphasized that the gathering comes at a crucial time to elevate key actions within the Maputo Protocol and hold state actors accountable for their implementation.
“This gathering signifies a pivotal moment for us to develop strategies that will engage both national and international partners. Liberia has signed onto the protocol, and we must remind our government of the obligations it has towards protecting the rights of women,” Madam Yango stated.
She further called on the government of Liberia to live up to its commitments, particularly regarding the protection of women’s rights, and urged immediate action to domesticate these international laws. “We cannot have laws that Liberia is a signatory to and still witness violence against women, especially FGM. The protocol prohibits this act, and Liberia has committed to it,” she emphasized. “It is now time for the government to take concrete steps to domesticate these laws and ensure that women’s rights are truly protected.”
Madam Yang stressed that the strategies developed during the dialogue will serve as a roadmap for further advocacy efforts, ensuring that Liberia honors its commitments to advancing women’s rights. The workshop also underscored the pivotal role of Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR), which has been a strong advocate for women’s rights movements across Africa since 2004.
In her remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Liberia highlighted the importance of the meeting, noting that the Maputo Protocol is a gender-responsive legal framework. “As we discuss laws, especially those that are gender-sensitive, we cannot overlook regional or international frameworks like the Maputo Protocol, which is instrumental in addressing gender issues,” she said.
Highlight On The Maputo Protocol
The Maputo Protocol, formally known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, is a groundbreaking human rights instrument adopted by the African Union in 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique. It promotes and protects the rights of women across Africa, focusing on issues such as discrimination, violence, harmful traditional practices, reproductive rights, and economic empowerment.
Notably, the protocol covers a wide range of rights, including the right to dignity, protection from violence, access to education, political participation, reproductive health, and inheritance rights. It also calls for the elimination of harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM). Countries that ratify the protocol commit to enacting laws and policies that uphold these rights, ensuring women’s equality and empowerment.
The workshop, however, concluded with the zest for stronger advocacy and collaboration between women-led organizations. Committing to engage state actors and international partners to ensure the effective implementation of the Maputo Protocol in Liberia.
